Brad's Beat: Christmas Tree Farm
By: Brad Douglas
Updated: July 10, 2012
JASPER COUNTY, MO.--- Andy Johnson is already in the Christmas spirit and it's only July.
"We're in the heat of Christmas," says Johnson, a Christmas Tree Farmer.
He owns the Bridge Stone Christmas Tree Farm in Jasper County. July is actually one of his busiest times of year because he has to prune more than 600 trees.
"Pick your center point. Everyone knows what a Christmas tree looks like. It's a typical cone. A invisible line from the top to the base of the tree," says Johnson.
He started the farm 7 years ago and go out of the construction business. He says the 2 have something in common.
"Right now it's the heat, you don't get a break in construction, you don't get a break out here," says Johnson.
He has more than 3,000 trees in the ground, but the babies he's having to water by hand. He says this drought has been awful.
"Last year was by far the worst. This year is right there with it."
Being a Christmas tree farmer, you have to have a lot of patience because they only grow a few inches a year. Theses trees wont be ready until 2018.
"We gotta move in between the rows, otherwise the grass will take over."
He says Santa has the far easier job.
"Santa Claus is up in the nice AC building toys, here I am out in the heat," states Johnson.
"We're in the heat of Christmas," says Johnson, a Christmas Tree Farmer.
He owns the Bridge Stone Christmas Tree Farm in Jasper County. July is actually one of his busiest times of year because he has to prune more than 600 trees.
"Pick your center point. Everyone knows what a Christmas tree looks like. It's a typical cone. A invisible line from the top to the base of the tree," says Johnson.
He started the farm 7 years ago and go out of the construction business. He says the 2 have something in common.
"Right now it's the heat, you don't get a break in construction, you don't get a break out here," says Johnson.
He has more than 3,000 trees in the ground, but the babies he's having to water by hand. He says this drought has been awful.
"Last year was by far the worst. This year is right there with it."
Being a Christmas tree farmer, you have to have a lot of patience because they only grow a few inches a year. Theses trees wont be ready until 2018.
"We gotta move in between the rows, otherwise the grass will take over."
He says Santa has the far easier job.
"Santa Claus is up in the nice AC building toys, here I am out in the heat," states Johnson.
